Narrative Lectionary, Year 2: MaRK

Our preachers use the Narrative Lectionary from which to preach each Sunday, and Bible Study is an opportunity for the Body to come together to dwell in the passage before it’s preached. This way, the community of faith informs each Sunday’s Word. Our hope is that we'll be able to live into scripture more fully, as well as, help our preachers not only glean wisdom from the Body, but also hear how the scriptures are intersecting in their lives.

The Narrative Lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings. On the Sundays from September through May each year the texts follow the sweep of the biblical story, from Creation through the early Christian church. The texts show the breadth and variety of voices within Scripture. They invite people to hear the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the prophets, Jesus, and Paul. Listening to the many different voices within Scripture enriches preaching and the life of faith.

Old Testament texts are the primary vehicle for proclaiming the biblical story until the Fourth Sunday of Advent, when the gospel readings become primary texts. An optional accompanying reading (selected from the gospels before Christmas and after Easter; from Psalms Christmas through Easter) is noted in parentheses.

Click here to go to the Narrative Lectionary website, which provides commentary and other resources.

January 7 Baptism of Our Lord/Epiphany

Mark 2:1-22 (Psalm 103: 6-14)

January 14 Second Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 4:1-34 (Psalm 126) Parables in Mark: Parables of sower and mustard seed

January 21 Third Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 5:1-20 (Psalm 89:1-4) Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac: Jesus heals the Gerasene demoniac

January 28 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 5:21-43 (Psalm 131) Jairus’ Daughter Healed: Jesus heals Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the flow of blood.

February 4 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Mark 6:1-29 (Psalm 122) Death of John the Baptist: Jesus is rejected at Nazareth, Sending of the Twelve, Death of John the Baptist.

February 11 Transfiguration of Our Lord

Mark 8:27-9:8 (Psalm 27:1-4) Transfiguration: Peter’s confession, passion prediction, bearing the cross, Transfiguration.

February 14 Ash Wednesday

Mark 9:30-37 (Psalm 32:1-5) Passion Prediction: Passion prediction, debate about who is the greatest, call to become a servant.

February 18 First Sunday in Lent

Mark 10:17-31 (Psalm 19:7-10) First Last and Last First: Rich man is called to sell all he has and follow Jesus.

February 25 Second Sunday in Lent

Mark 10:32-52 (Psalm 34:11-14) Bartimaeus Healed: Passion prediction, Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, heals blind Bartimaeus.

March 3 Third Sunday in Lent

Mark 12:1-12 [13-17] (Psalm 86:8-13) Parable of the Tenants [Taxes to Caesar]: Parable of the wicked tenants; paying taxes to Caesar

March 10 Fourth Sunday in Lent

Mark 12:28-44 (Psalm 89:1-4) Great Commandment: Great commandment, scribes seek honor, a poor widow gives all she has.

March 17 Fifth Sunday in Lent

Mark 13:1-8, 24-37 (Psalm 102:12-17) End of the Age: The end of the age; call to be watchful.

March 24 Palm Sunday

Mark 11:1-11 and Mark 14: 3-9 (Psalm 118:25-29) Triumphal Entry (or Anointing at Bethany): Triumphal entry (or Woman anoints Jesus at Bethany)

March 28 Maundy Thursday

Mark 14:22-42 (Psalm 116:12-19) Lord’s Supper, Prayer in Gethsemane: Words of Institution; Peter’s denial foretold; prayer in Gethsemane.

March 29 Good Friday

Mark 15:16-39 (Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21]) Crucifixion: Mocking; crucifixion; “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”

March 31 Easter

Mark 16:1-8 (Psalm 118:19-24) Resurrection: Resurrection, empty tomb, and fleeing in fear.

April 7 Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 1:1-14 (Mark 6:7-13) You Shall Be My Witness: Great Commission: “You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

April 14 Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 3:1-10 (Mark 6: 53-56) Peter Heals in Jerusalem: Healing at the Beautiful Gate; “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you, in the name of Jesus rise and walk.”

April 21 Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (Mark 13:9-11) Church at Thessalonica: Founding church at Thessalonica; Paul’s message of thanks to the church at Thessalonica.

April 28 Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 18:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (Mark 9:34-35) Church at Corinth: Founding the church at Corinth; Factions in the church and the word of the cross.

May 5 Sixth Sunday of Easter

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Mark 12:28-31) Faith, Hope, and Love: “Faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.”

May 12 Seventh Sunday of Easter

1 Corinthians 15:1-26, 51-57 (Mark 12:26-27a) Death Swallowed in Life: Jesus’ resurrection and the future resurrection; death as the last enemy.

May 19 Pentecost

Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 (Mark 1:4-8) Gifts of the Spirit: Pentecost; Faith as principal work of the Spirit; other gifts of the Spirit for the common good.